Common Name(s): | Southern cattail, Narrow-leaf cattail |
Scientific Name: | Typha domingensis |
Family: | Typhaceae |
Growth Traits: | Native, perennial, warm season |
Description: Can grow to over 9 feet tall. It forms dense colonies connected by rhizomes in shallow water or moist soil. Southern
cattail is distinguished from common cattail by looking at the stamen (male organ of a flower), pistil (female organ of a flower) and leaf. There is a small gap (0.5 to 1.5 inches) between the stamen and pistil on southern cattail, and there is no gap on common cattail. The leaf on southern cattail is convex on the back, and common cattail’s leaf is flat on the back. The stamen has the appearance of a cigar at the base of the spikes. The plant serves as habitat for invertebrates, which are eaten by fish and waterfowl. Cattail is an aggressive plant that can completely surround a body of water quickly and can be hard to control. It usually will not grow in water deeper than 3.5 feet. |
Chemical Control Options: Glyphosate, imazapyr, imazamox, 2,4-D or diquat. |
Mechanical Control Options: Cutting is only temporarily effective due to rhizomatic growth, unless water level can be manipulated to cover all cut stems with a couple of feet of water. |
Biological Control Options: There is not a good biological control option. Large grass carp sometimes reduce it but do not provide consistent control. |